NEW DELHI: Skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been named within the squad for the three-match T20 sequence towards Afghanistan, which begins on Thursday, though Kohli can be out there solely from the second T20I.
This has prompted questions on how the workforce’s think-tank plans to accommodate Kohli within the taking part in eleven, with hypothesis arising a couple of potential opening partnership with Rohit.
India’s head coach, Rahul Dravid, addressed the media, acknowledging the expertise and talent units possessed by each the star batters Rohit and Kohli. Dravid said, “Nothing is closed (Kohli opening with Rohit). We’ve got little doubt that the form of potential and talent units gamers like Rohit and Kohli possess, they are going to have the ability to discover solutions towards completely different sorts of bowling.”Nevertheless, Dravid clarified that, for the upcoming Afghanistan sequence, the workforce intends to stick with Rohit and Yashasvi Jaiswal as openers, emphasizing the significance of getting a left-right pair on the prime of the order. Jaiswal has been serving as an opener because the sequence towards the West Indies in August final 12 months.
“As of now, we can be opening with Rohit and Jaiswal. When you could have a squad that gives flexibility, we are able to take a name that’s in the most effective curiosity of the workforce,” stated Dravid on the eve of the opening match. “We’re definitely proud of what Jaiswal has completed for us as an opener. It additionally provides us the left-right mixture on the prime.”

Dravid emphasised that the choice course of would prioritize a participant’s functionality to deal with numerous circumstances quite than focusing solely on attaining a left-right mixture within the batting order. He highlighted the importance of a participant’s potential to play by way of completely different phases and deal with numerous kinds of spin.
“We nonetheless have left-handers within the line-up. However it’s not solely about left-handers however it’s their potential to play by way of a interval and to have the ability to sort out completely different sorts of spin that there’s,” Dravid asserted. He additionally famous the addition of gamers like Rinku, Jaiswal, and Tilak, including depth to the workforce’s batting choices.
Dravid emphasised that workforce choice can be based mostly on efficiency quite than a strict desire for left or right-handed batsmen. The upcoming sequence towards Afghanistan is anticipated to supply insights into the workforce’s methods and mixtures main as much as the T20 World Cup.

(With inputs from PTI)